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During recent months, the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo has changed significantly. Successful presidential, parliamentary, provincial and senatorial elections have been held. The process of pacification in the notoriously unstable east is progressing. Remaining armed groups in Ituri began joining Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs in December 2006. Integration of ex-Mayi-Mayi forces and other militias continues. In spite of these positive changes, the country is far from true stability. This was vividly demonstrated by the violence and killings in Kinshasa in March and the brutal oppression of an opposition group in the west of the country in January.

The international community had leverage over the transitional government in the DRC. Now, however, it is dealing with a democratically elected government that, given its recent oppression of the opposition, still has to prove a genuine commitment to democracy. It is time for the UN and its agencies, the World Bank, the EU and all bilateral DRC partners to rethink their strategies and look for reliable national partners who can turn the country towards sustainable democracy, development and peace.

In contrast to the immediate post-independence era—when the country had only a handful of university graduates—young intellectuals, lawyers, politicians and human rights activists are now entering the political arena to change their country into a catalyst for peace and prosperity throughout Central Africa. Women’s and youth groups, human rights advocates, churches and environmental associations are all striving to participate in the making of a new DRC. A continued focus on the government’s democratic programs will not be enough in this post-electoral period. The Congolese government has not yet proven itself as the most reliable partner regarding democratic values, and the international community needs more non-governmental partners to aid in the reconstruction of the country.

Because these groups are not yet linked together into a cohesive entity, partnering with non-governmental actors would facilitate the empowerment, assistance and rehabilitation of a strong, grassroots-based civil society. Moreover, seeking civil society as a new partner could prevent civil unrest in the post-electoral period. Given the enormous expectations with which the elections were met by the Congolese people, denying the people their civic right of political participation will disillusion them. Partnering with grassroots organizations will, by contrast, enable the population to actively participate in reconstruction and democratization. While the empowerment and support of civil society will not alone bring peace to the country, it may prevent public disappointment and resentment in the first legislative term after the elections.

A sovereign DRC with a democratically elected government may choose to limit the international community’s room for intervention. At the same time, a new government provides new opportunities for cooperation. To profit from these chances, the international community must select its partners carefully based on their genuine commitment to democracy. Partnering with civil society does not mean bypassing or sidelining the government, but it will help to put Congo’s nascent democracy on a broader and therefore more stable footing.

Günther von Billerbeck is Political Affairs Officer at the MONUC HQ Ituri in Bunia, DRC. The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the author, intuiti personae, and do not reflect, nor should they be understood as the positions, views or opinions of MONUC, the UN or UN officials.

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